System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance

ABSTRACT

When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation to initiate a playing of media content and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/643,883, filed on Dec. 21, 2006, which, in turn,claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/288,727, filed Nov. 6, 2002, which, in turn, claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/344,020, filed Dec. 20, 2001, andU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/344,774, filed Nov. 20, 2001, eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No.10/176,315, filed Jun. 20, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,591, which wasincorporated by reference in its entirety in U.S. application Ser. No.10/288,727, as well as U.S. application Ser. No. 10/785,642, filed Feb.24, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,302.

BACKGROUND

This invention generally relates to platforms having a display andcommunication capabilities such as PDAs, Web Tablets, touch screenremote controls, personal computers, and the like.

SUMMARY

A system and method for retrieving information is described. Generally,a command key of a platform has an operation and an address of aninformation source. When the command key is activated, the platformperforms the operation and also initiates the retrieval of informationfrom the information source using the address. In an illustratedexample, the operation results in the platform transmitting a command tocause a tunable device, such as a television, VCR, cable box, PVR, orthe like, to tune to a channel associated with a content provider. Theaddress may be used to access an information source, such as a Web page,associated with the content provider.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, propertiesand relationships of the invention will be obtained from the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings which set forthillustrative embodiments that are indicative of the various ways inwhich the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention,reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the attacheddrawings in which:

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate screen shots of an exemplary graphical userinterface for displaying retrieved information and for commanding theoperation of an appliance; and

FIGS. 4-14 illustrate screen shots of an exemplary graphical userinterface used to setup a device to retrieve information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements, a system and method for retrieving information whilecommanding operation of an appliance is described. Generally, the systemresides on a platform, such as a Web tablet, PDA, personal computer,remote control, or the like, adapted to transmit commands to anappliance. The platform is also adapted to communicate with a source ofinformation, for example, a Web site via the Internet. In this regard,the platform may have hardware and software that allows the platform tocommunicate directly with the source of information and/or hardware andsoftware that facilitates indirect communication with the source ofinformation, for example, via a personal computer acting as anintermediate gateway to a network server.

By way of more specific example, the underlying platform may include aprocessor coupled to a memory system comprising a combination of ROMmemory, non-volatile read/write memory, and RAM memory (a memorysystem); a key matrix, mouse, “graffiti” handwriting input pad, or otherinput device that accepts input from the user; an internal clock andtimer; a transmission circuit; a power supply; a display (which may be atouch screen display in lieu of or in addition to the input device) toprovide visible feedback to the user; and I/O circuitry for allowing thedevice to exchange communications with an external computer such asserver and/or an intermediate gateway. As noted previously,representative platforms include, but are not limited to, devices suchas remote controls, lap-top computers, Web Tablets and/or PDAsmanufactured by Compaq, HP, Palm, Visor, etc.

The memory system includes executable instructions that are intended tobe executed by the processor to control the operation of the platform.In this manner, the processor may be programmed to control the variouselectronic components within the device, e.g., to monitor power, tocause the transmission of signals, etc. Within the memory system, theROM portion of memory is used to store fixed programming and data thatremains unchanged for the life of the product. The non-volatileread/write memory, which may be FLASH, EEPROM, battery-backed up RAM,“Smart Card,” memory stick, or the like, is provided to store consumerentered setup data and parameters, downloaded data, additionalprogramming, etc., as necessary. RAM memory is used by the processor forworking storage as well as to hold data items which, by virtue of beingbacked up or duplicated on an external computer are not required tosurvive loss of battery power. While the memory system is described ascomprising all three classes of memory, it will be appreciated that, ingeneral, such a memory system need not necessarily support all three,and can be comprised of any type of computer-readable media, such asROM, RAM, SRAM, FLASH, EEPROM, or the like in combination. Preferably,however, at least part of the memory system should be non-volatile orbattery backed such that basic setup parameters and operating featureswill survive loss of battery power. In addition, such memories may takethe form of a chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, and/or an optical diskwithout limitation.

For commanding the operation of appliances of different makes, models,and types, the memory system may include a command code library. Thecommand code library is comprised of a plurality of command codes thatmay be transmitted from the platform for the purpose of controlling theoperation of an appliance. The memory system may also includesinstructions which the processor uses in connection with thetransmission circuit to cause the command codes to be transmitted in aformat recognized by an identified appliance. While the transmissioncircuit preferably utilizes infrared transmissions, it will beappreciated that other forms of wired or wireless transmissions, such asradio frequency, may also be used.

To identify appliances by type and make (and sometimes model) such thatthe device is adapted to transmit recognizable command codes in theformat appropriate for such identified appliances, information may beentered into the platform. Since methods for setting up a platform tocontrol the operation of specific appliances are well-known, they willnot be described in greater detail herein. Nevertheless, for additionaldetails concerning setup operations the reader may turn to U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,225,938, 4,623,887, 5,872,562, 5,614,906, 4,959,810, 4,774,511,and 4,703,359 which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

To cause the platform to perform an operation, the platform is adaptedto be responsive to events, such as a sensed interaction with one ormore keys on the key matrix, with the touch screen display, or a signalfrom an external source such as a remote computer. More specifically, inresponse to an event, appropriate instructions within the memory systemare executed. For example, when a hard or soft command key is activatedon the platform, the platform may read the command code corresponding tothe activated command key from the memory system and transmit thecommand code to an appliance in a format recognizable by the appliance.It will be appreciated that the instructions within the memory systemcan be used not only to cause the transmission of command codes toappliances but also to perform local operations. While not limiting,local operations that may be performed by the device include favoritechannel setup, macro button setup, command function key relocation, etc.Examples of local operations can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,256,5,959,751, 6,014,092, which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

As discussed, the platform comprises a general purpose, processor systemwhich is controllable by software. The software may include routines,programs, objects, components, and/or data structures that performparticular tasks that can be viewed as an operating system together withone or more applications. The operating system, such as the “Windows CE”or “Windows XP” brand operating system or the like, provides anunderlying set of management and control functions which are utilized byapplications to offer consumer functions such as calendar, address book,spreadsheet, notepad, etc., as well as control of appliances. Additionalapplications can be provided for use in accessing Internet data,displaying TV guide information, and the like. Thus, it should beunderstood that, in terms of the internal software architecture, a“remote control” application may be but one of several possibleapplications which may co-exist within the platform. It should also beunderstood that in terms of providing operating system functionality,the demarcation between a platform and a host/client PC may varyconsiderably from product to product—at one extreme the platform may benothing more than a slave display and input device in wirelesscommunication with a PC that performs all computational functions and,at the other extreme, the platform may be a fully-functional PC systemin its own right complete with local mass storage. It will also beappreciated that in an alternative embodiment, a similar hardwareplatform to that described above may be used in conjunction with ascaled-down operating system to provide remote control functionalityonly, i.e., as a standalone application. In all cases, however, theprinciples expressed herein remain the same.

To provide a means by which a consumer can interact with the platform,the platform is provided with software that implements a graphical userinterface. The graphical user interface software may also provide accessto additional software, such as a browser application, that is used todisplay to the consumer items that may be retrieved from local memory orfrom an external computer. Such a graphical user interface system isdescribed in U.S. Applications 60/264,767, 60/334,774, and 60/344,020all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Thebrowser application may comprise an integral extension of the graphicaluser interface software, or may be a separate program supplied as partof the underlying operating system or its accompanying utility softwareand accessed via a standardized interface such Microsoft's COM(Component Object Module) technology.

The graphical user interface may also be used to provide a system andmethod for displaying information that is retrieved in response to thereceipt of an event commanding the platform to perform an operation. Theevent may direct the platform to perform a local operation and/or anoperation to transmit a command to an appliance. For example, withreference to FIGS. 1-3, the graphical user interface can be used todisplay one or more pages (A, B, and C) of selectable command icons 12by which the user may, among other things, generate events to controlthe operation of the platform where: page A is provided as a means bywhich a user may place the platform in a mode to control a selectedappliance; page B is provided as a means by which a user may direct thetransmission of commands to the selected appliance; and page C providesa means by which a user may cause the transmission of commands to tunean appliance to a designated favorite, such as a favorite televisionprogram. As this aspect of the graphical user interface is described indetail in the incorporated U.S. Applications 60/264,767, 60/334,774, and60/344,020 it will not be described further herein.

The graphical user interface may also provide an area within a display,such as window 14, in which information is presented to the user. Forexample, FIG. 1 illustrates information in the form of a “PBS” Web pagethat was retrieved via the Internet (either directly of via anintermediate gateway) in response to the user activating command icon 16that was programmed to cause the transmission of a command to tune anappliance, such as a television, to the channel on which PBS isbroadcast. FIG. 2 similarly illustrates information in the form of an“NBC” Web page that was retrieved via the Internet in response to theuser activating command icon 18 that was programmed to cause thetransmission of a command to tune an appliance, such as a television, tothe channel on which NBC is broadcast. FIG. 3 also illustratesinformation in the form of a “Disney” Web page that was retrieved viathe Internet in response to the user activating command icon 20 that wasprogrammed to cause the transmission of a command to tune an appliance,such as a television, to the channel of which the Disney station isbroadcast.

To setup the platform to retrieve information, exemplary steps areillustrated in FIGS. 4-14. In the example, the user interacts with theplatform to indicate a desire to setup the platform to transmituser-specified command codes in addition to retrieving information. Thisdesire may be indicated by the user selecting a general setup commandicon 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In response to the selection of thesetup command icon 22, the user may be presented with an optional menu24, illustrated in FIG. 5, by which the user may further specify adesire to setup one or more features of the platform. In this case, theuser indicates a desire to add a command icon to the favorites page(i.e., page C of the exemplary graphical user interface). This, in turn,commences a setup wizard 26, illustrated in FIGS. 6-12, that guides theuser through the procedure for setting up the command icon to-be-addedto the graphical user interface.

The setup wizard 26 may first present to the user a general informationpage, illustrated in FIG. 6, followed by an instruction page thatdirects the user to enter one or more keystrokes (i.e., activations ofhard key(s) and/or command icon(s) in the form of soft keys) which causethe platform to perform one or more operations which operations theplatform is to repeat when the to-be-added command icon is activated. Aswill be appreciated, the keystrokes may be used to command the platformto transmit command codes, cause the platform to perform a localoperation, or the like. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, thekeystroke assignment process is used to indicate a desire to have theplatform transmit command codes to an appliance to tune the appliance(e.g., a television as indicated by the mode command icon 28) to adesired channel number (e.g., channel “07” resulting from the activationof command icon “0” followed by the activation of command icon “7”followed by activation of the wrench icon 22 used to signify the end ofsequence). Once the end of the operational sequence is reached, afurther menu 30, illustrated in FIG. 9, may be presented to the user toallow the user to edit the sequence, indicate that the sequence isacceptable, test the sequence, etc. To further allow for the testing ofthe sequence, the platform can perform operations in accordance with thekeystrokes as the user enters the keystrokes during the setup procedure.In the example provided, this would result in the platform transmittingthe commands to tune the television to channel 7 as the user sets up theto-be-added command icon. It will be appreciated that operations to beassigned to the to-be-added command icon can also be specified by meansof menu selections or the like and need not be limited to keystroketracking.

Once the user has indicated to the platform the operations to assign tothe to-be-added command icon, the user may select how the to-be-addedcommand icon will appear to the user in the graphical user interface. Tothis end, the user may enter a text label to be associated with theto-be-added command icon as illustrated in FIG. 10 and/or select animage for the to-be-added command icon as illustrated in FIG. 11. Theimages may be selected by scrolling, for example, through an imagelibrary having preloaded, downloaded via the Internet, and/or usercreated icon images. Once the image has been selected and/or created,the user may then enter an address for an information repository that isto be accessed when the to-be-added icon is activated. While illustratedin FIG. 12 as the URL of a Web site on the Internet, it will beappreciated that the information repository can have a local or remoteaddress and that the addressing scheme need not be limited to the use ofURLs. Rather, any known or future developed addressing scheme would besupported.

When the user has finished the entering of the address of theinformation repository, for example by activating the next icon in theaddress entry screen 26 a of the setup wizard 26, the to-be-added iconis then added to the favorites page, page C, as an activatable commandicon 30 as illustrated in FIG. 13. In this manner, in keeping with theexample provided, subsequent activation of the command icon 30 by theuser results in the transmission of the command codes to tune atelevision to channel 7 and also the issuing of a request to retrieveinformation from the specified address, here “www.abc.com.” Anyinformation retrieved from the specified information repository ispresented in window 14 as illustrated in FIG. 14.

Since the exemplary window 14 may be adapted to present markup languagecontent as is common in Web pages, the user should also be provided withthe ability to interact with any displayed information to retrievefurther information, for example, by clicking on a hyperlink 32presented in a retrieved Web page. Conventional Web browser forward 34and back 36 command icons may be activated to navigate through a seriesof retrieved information pages. A windowing command icon 38 may also beactivated to toggle the window 14 between a collapsed state (i.e.,generally remove it from the display) and an active state (i.e., toreturn the window to the display).

In the case where the user has not specified an address for theinformation repository, a default address can be used or no retrievalaction performed. The default address can be a predetermined addressthat is mapped to a specific label and/or image in the image librarywhich address is used when the corresponding label and/or image isselected for a to-be-added command icon. For example, the web address ofa content provider (e.g., “www.espn.com”) can be mapped as thepredefined Web address for an icon image that depicts the network logoof the content provider. The predefined address could also be amanufacturer Web address which would take the user to information pages,registration pages, etc. of the manufacturer of the platform, theplatform software provider, or the appliance to be commanded. Whenpredefined addresses are utilized, these addresses may be presented tothe user in the address setup screen to allow the user to change theaddress. Alternatively, a predefined address can be unalterable in whichcase the step of allowing a user to enter the address would be skipped.

Still further, the described process need not be limited to setting upaddresses when adding command icons to the favorites page. Rather, anycommand icon may be available to be setup such that activation of thatcommand icon also retrieves information from an information repository.For example, activation of a command icon in the device mode wheel ofpage A can cause the platform to enter a mode for commanding anappliance and to retrieve information related to that appliance, e.g.,the platform may address “www.sony.com” in the event the TV mode icon 28is used to place the platform in a mode to command a “Sony” brandtelevision. Similarly, the favorites page of page C can display a groupof predetermined images of command icons that the user can setup toaccess information (and, if need be, to transmit appropriate commandcodes). It is contemplated that, in the case where cable operatorsprovide the platform to customers, some or all of the favorites page maybe pre-populated with command icons that may or may not have presetaddresses mapped thereto.

By way of further example, it is contemplated that operations performedin connection with an electronic program guide (“EPG”) could also resultin accessing of information. In this regard, as described in thereferenced co-pending patent applications, an EPG may be displayed onthe platform and selection/activation of a channel identifier (e.g.,“ABC 2”) may be used to cause the platform to transmit a command to tunea target appliance to the channel on which “ABC 2” is broadcast. It willbe appreciated that in some circumstances this would cause the device totransmit a command to actually tune the target device to channel 2 andin other circumstances to transmit a command to tune the target deviceto another broadcast channel (either user programmed or specified in thecontent of the EPG) on which the service provider is carrying thecontent for “ABC 2” (i.e., channel 7 on the cable affiliate of theuser). In connection with transmitting this command code, activation ofthe channel designating command icon in the EPG could also cause theplatform to access information pertaining to the selected contentprovider. For example, the user could designate, using the methodologydescribed above, that activation of the command icon “ABC” in the EPGadditionally directs the platform to retrieve information from thenational broadcaster of the content (e.g., “www.abc.com”) or informationfrom the local broadcaster of the content (e.g., from the local LosAngelas Affiliate Web site). While the user could program the platformto access information at a specified address, address information to belinked to an EPG operational icon could also be provided in connectionwith the downloading of the EPG into the platform. Any such downloadedaddress information may or may not be user editable. In any event, sincethe user would typically specify to the EPG provider their media serviceprovider(s) for the purpose of populating the EPG, this informationcould also be used by the EPG provider to link addresses to broadcaststation identifiers which addresses are used to access information whenthe broadcast station identifier icons in the EPG are selected totransmit commands to tune an electronic device to a desired contentprovider.

In addition, while described in the context of video broadcastinformation retrieval, it will be appreciated that other uses of thepresent invention are contemplated. For example, command icons used totune a radio receiver to a radio station may also be used to accessinformation related to the radio station, radio-station programmingcontent, etc. Furthermore, since the user may be free to set the addressto any desired address, the information retrieved is not limited tobeing associated with the operation to be performed by the platform inresponse to activation of the command icon to which the address isassociated. For example, a viewer can setup a command icon to tune atelevision to a given content provider while activation of the commandicon also causes the platform to retrieve information from, for example,an on-line auction Web site, such as “www.ebay.com,” that is unrelatedto the content provider.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alternatives to those details could be developed inlight of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, whiledescribed in the context of assigning addresses to command icons, themethods described herein can also be used to assign addresses to hardkeys. Accordingly, the particular arrangement disclosed is meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the inventionwhich is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and anyequivalents thereof. All of the references cited herein are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for causing media content to bepresented on an appliance using a remote control device having a displayand configured to communicate with the appliance, comprising: causingthe remote control device to display in the display of the remotecontrol device a user interface element representative of a mediacontent provider; and in direct response to a sensed interaction withthe user interface element displayed in the display of the remotecontrol device by the remote control device, causing the remote controldevice to transmit both a first command to cause the appliance toperform an operation to thereby provide access via the appliance tomedia content available from the media content provider and a secondcommand to cause a retrieval of information from a network address thatis predetermined within the remote control device prior to the sensedinteraction with the user interface element; and causing the remotecontrol to display the information retrieved from the network address inthe display of the controlling device.
 2. The method as recited in claim1, wherein the network address comprises a wide area network address. 3.The method as recited in claim 2, comprising automatically mapping thewide area network address to the user interface element.
 4. The methodas recited in claim 2, comprising receiving input into the remotecontrol device to manually map the wide area network address to the userinterface element.
 5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the widearea network address comprises a URL.
 6. The method as recited in claim1, wherein the user interface element representative of the mediacontent provider is pre-stored in a memory of the remote control device.7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface elementrepresentative of the media content provider is retrieved from a memoryof a device external to the remote control device.
 8. The method asrecited in claim 7, wherein the device external to the remote controldevice comprises an Internet server device.
 9. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein the information that is retrieved using the networkaddress comprises a further user interface element and wherein, inresponse to a sensed interaction with the further user interfaceelement, causing the remote control device to transmit a third commandto cause a retrieval of further information from a further networkaddress.
 10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first commandcomprises a channel tuning command.
 11. The method as recited in claim1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.
 12. The methodas recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control device comprises atable computing device.
 13. The method as recited in claim 1, whereinthe first command is caused to be transmitted in a first signal andwherein the second command is caused to be transmitted in a secondsignal.